Up one level
Back to Home
  Information on and Modifications for the Syntor, Syntor X, Syntor X9000, MCX100, MCX1000 and Mostar Series
Compiled by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
Maintained by Robert Meister WA1MIK
   


THERE IS NO SUCH RADIO AS A SYNTOR XX

Motorola ®

To paraphrase Paul Bennett N7OCS, "The Syntor X, Syntor X9000 and Syntor X9000E radios use a 'drop shadowed' X graphic.   This drop shadow is cosmetic only and there is no such thing as a Syntor XX, Syntor XX 9000 or Syntor XX 9000E radio.   On the other hand, there are Syntor X2 and Syntor X3 trunking radios, so the use of the "XX" can be confusing and should always be avoided."

Also there is a space before the "X" and no dash or hyphen between the X and the 9000. In other words, "Syntor X9000" is correct, "Syntor X-9000" is incorrect, as is "Syntor-X9000" and "Syntor-X-9000".


The Syntor line of mobile radios are synthesized 32 channel radios for VHF and UHF. The Syntors were made in the 1980s and were an outgrowth of the crystal controlled Micor series. The RF frequency information was held in a one-time programmable PROM chip, and the PL tone / DPL code information in a second chip. Paul Benett's web site listed below provides alternatives to the almost-impossible-to-find PROM chips and the methods to program them. The Mike Blenderman K7IC web site, also listed below, is the fount of knowledge on the entire Syntor / Syntor X / Syntor X9000 series.

The Syntor X radios followed the Syntors and were completely different inside (they really should have had a different product name). They offer more options including low band and 32 channels (or more). The programming is held in a plug-in memory module that holds one of several different sized memory chips. The programming information holds separate receive and transmit frequencies, PL or DPL (tone or digital encode/decode), a timeout timer (programmable in 15 second increments to over 7 minutes) and a scan list (up to 32 channels) with two priority channels. There is a mod that provides 64 channels, but it's not as desirable as you first would think (go read Mike Blenderman's page on it to find out why).

Two sources of Syntor or Syntor X memory module programming are:   (offsite links)

  • Andy Brinkley of Brinkley Electronics in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (click on "Radio Programming" then Motorola)
  • Bruce Lane of Blue Feather Technologies in Kent, Washington (scroll down to "RF Services")

  • You can contact either of these people via the contact information on their web sites.
    If anyone else would like to be added to this list just send an email to Mike Morris WA6ILQ at (his-callsign) //at// repeater-builder //dot// com.
    Yes, the email address is disguised in an attempt to avoid spambot email address sniffers.

    The Syntor X9000 followed the Syntor X and is the same radio from an RF standpoint, but the internal controller board was upgraded to expand the number of memory channels up to 255. The control cable connector on the X9000 is the same as the X, but the accessories are not compatible. The X9000 uses Systems 9000 accessories and options that communicate with the radio via a 9600 baud serial bus. The control head(s) are smart heads with their own microprocessor inside. Unlike the Syntor X the X9000 is programmed with RSS (and a slow PC), a RIB and special adapter cable that goes in series with the normal radio cable. The the special cable is not an absolute requirement; there are several ways to make your own connection from a radio to a RIB. In other words, the X9000 is a more desirable mobile radio than a Syntor X since you don't need the almost-impossible-to-find suitcase programmer for the plain Syntor or the Syntor X... you just connect a slow PC or a laptop to the X9000 and program it. The RSS package for the X9000 contains two programs, one to program the radio, and one to program the head (you program the radio with the information (frequency, tone, etc) for each mode, you program the head with the text to display for each mode).

    One quirk about the 256 channel X9000 radios: the memory chip in the head only has room for about 209 text labels, when you go to any channel above the limit the display changes and displays the word "MODE" plus the channel number. The firmware allocates a fixed number of display memory bytes for each label - in other words using fewer characters in modes 1-209 does not move the switchover threshold. I've found that 209 text labels is sufficient for my needs.

    The Syntor X9000E models are actually conventional Syntor X9000 radios with an internal trunking controller board added. The "E" model offers nothing to the non-trunking user and are not any more valuable than a plain X9000. These radios can be easily converted into conventional Syntor X9000 radios (which is not true of trunking Syntor X models).

    Note that there are a wide range of Syntor line accessories and that the cable and head are not compatible between the various Syntor, Syntor X Syntor X9000 and Syntor X9000E models. The only accessories that are the same across all radio lines are the speaker, microphone and antenna. If you do not have experience with the Syntor series and decide to buy any Syntor you really need to purchase a complete installation kit - the radio, cable and the head. Mike Blenderman's and Paul Bennett's web sites (linked below) will help sort out the confusion, but it's best NOT to try and mix and match unless you have the full manual that covers your radio(s) and accessories.

    Mike Blenderman K7IC has his own very extensive web site on the Syntor, the Syntor X, the Syntor X9000, the Syntor X9000E and the trunking models of the Syntor X and X9000 listed below. There is no point in duplicating his effort here at Repeater-Builder. This web page is only going to cover topics that are not covered at Mike's site. I really suggest that you go to Mike's site first (and bookmark it).

    The Syntor, Syntor X and Syntor x9000 can use 4, 8 or 16 ohm speakers. All use an internal audio output transformer and you don't need to do anything special to do measure quieting, etc. (as opposed to the later Mitreks, Maxtracs, etc that used transformerless / complimentary or differential audio outputs where you have to use a 1:1 8 ohm transformer in line since cannot connect either side of the radios speaker output to ground).

    After Skip Hansen WB6YMH and Lee Dusbabek K7KAJ picked up a fleet of radios that had been sold without the memory modules they designed, built and now sell a replacement memory module for the Syntor X called the Xcat. It plugs into the Syntor X in place of the original Motorola module and provides complete funtionality plus it is programmable by a PC using a Windows-based program. A Syntor X plus the Xcat is a much more capable base station or remote base radio than an X9000 - and much cheaper!

    However, if your interest is in a standalone mobile radio then the X9000 is still the way to go as the X9000 came in 32, 64, 128 and 255 modes and offers an 11-character alphanumeric display control head. In contrast, the Xcat provides 32 modes and you can't run some accessories (like a PA-siren) from the Syntor X main control head (when the Syntor X was a current product Moto provided an accessory control box that mounted on top of the radios control head).

    Click here for a photo of the Xcat board       Click here for a photo of the installed Xcat board.

    The brown connector at the top of the first photo plugs into the Syntor X in place of the original Motorola module (so if you end up with an eBay Syntor X that was decomissioned by pulling the module you can add the Xcat and turn your doorstop back into a real radio).
    Again referring to the first photo, the 10-pin header that is visible in the lower left connects to a DB9 connector that plugs into your PCs serial port (COM port) for programming the Xcat. The 20-pin header at the lower right is for a connection to a repeater controller when used in a remote base application (it's the multicolor ribbon cable in the "installed" photo). The Xcat allows remote selection of RF frequency, PL encode and decode tones, and power level via the Doug Hall "RBI" protocol that is supported by most controllers (and you don't need the Doug Hall box!). The Icom CI-V protocol or the serial protocol can be used by controllers that don't support the Doug Hall protocol.

    The Xcat module, when plugged in place of the original Moto memory module, provides:
    1. Computer control via serial port and a professionally written open source Windows application.
    2. Interface to repeater controllers using either the "Doug Hall" or Icom CI-V protocols. Yes, a Syntor X equipped with an Xcat makes an exact and excellent replacement for a Kenwood mobile as a remote base (but it has a real receiver with some decent intermod reistance). The Xcat has been used successfully with RLC3, Pacific Research RI-300s and an Scom - and without the Doug Hall RBI box in the middle.
    3. If you interface it to a repeater controller you can use a Syntor-X as a fully frequency and PL tone agile remote base. And you can have multiple Xcats sharing the same controller port (i.e. separate low band, high band and UHF Xcat/Syntor-X remote bases on one repeater controller port).
    4. The Xcat was designed to make a Syntor X into a high end remote base radio, with the Xcat cabled to the site controller. However, if installed into a mobile (i.e. in simple standalone operation) you end up with a 32 mode code plug that can be programmed by your home PC without any superfluous hardware (i.e. no RIB, RSS or old 386 computer required). From the point of view of the Syntor the Xcat is an exact replacement for the orignal Motorola-built Syntor X memory module and your radio won't know the difference. The Windows application uploads the information to the Xcat and then the computer is disconnected until the information needs to be changed.
    More information is available at the Xcat yahoogroup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xcat.


    Syntor X9000 Detailed Information:
    The the Syntor, the Syntor X, the Syntor X9000, and the trunking Syntor X and X9000E page by Mike Blenderman K7IC   (offsite link).
    If you have any flavor of Syntor you will want to bookmark this page !
    The original Syntor X9000 Sales Brochure   4.3 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
    Syntor X9000 Conventional Radio System Operator's Manual   6880100W95-C   971 kB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
    Syntor X9000 Trunked and Conventional Operator's Manual   6880100W90-O   1.14 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
    Syntor X9000E Privacy Plus Radio System Operator's Manual   6880102W26-O   1.02 MB PDF     Donated by A. Nony Mous
    Syntor X9000 High Band, UHF and 800 MHz Instruction Manual Supplement   6880100W94-O dated 17-Feb-1986   9.8 MB PDF     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    This supplement covers early Syntor X9000 radios, before the applicable manuals were published.
    It is intended to be used with the later Syntor X manuals, as follows:
    • VHF Syntor X radios, covered in manual 6881060E05
    • UHF Syntor X radios, covered in manual 6880100W45
    Later Syntor X9000 radios are covered in the following manuals:
    • Low-Band Syntor X9000 radios: 6880101W95
    • High-Band Syntor X9000 radios: 6880102W05
    • UHF Syntor X9000 radios: 6880102W04
    A later version of the early X9000 supplement is here.   6880100W94-O dated 09-Sep-1986   7.2 MB PDF
    It includes 800 Mhz units and a few more options.
    Syntor X9000 High Band Service Manual   6880102W05-O   17.8 MB PDF     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    This radio comes in two ranges, 136-154.4 and 150-174 MHz.
    Syntor X9000 Low Band Radio System 100 watts 31-50 MHz Service Manual  6880101W95-D   15.6 MB PDF     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    This radio came in ONE range! Despite it saying "31-50 MHz" the radio will do 28-54 MHz just fine - as long as you realize that the average low band mobile antenna only does a 1 MHz portion of that band. The only way to get around the 1 MHz limitation is to either use two mobile antennas (which gives two 1 MHz "windows") or to use a screwdriver antenna and a self-contained auto-tuner (like an SGC). The details on the two-antenna setup is in the mobile section of the Antenna Systems page at this web site.
    Syntor X9000 UHF Manual 6880102W04-O   6.6 MB PDF     Scanned by Charles Blythe, KD5TKR
    This radio came in four ranges: (1) 406-420, (2) 450-470, (3) 470-488, (4) 482-500, (5) 494-512 MHz.
    Ranges 3, 4, and 5 are pretty useless to hams (except for parts to convert a Syntor X to a Syntor X9000).
    Syntor X9000 / System 9000 Siren-PA   6880101W10-A   3.2 MB PDF Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    This manual covers the W269AF, W269AH, W589AH and W589AK series units, and both the HLN1184 and HLN1185 kits.
    Syntor X9000 / System 9000 HKN4241A control cable schematic   182 KB PDF Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    This schematic shows the horn and headlights control, normal and SecureNet cabling, and more.
    Syntor X9000 / System 9000 Tee-Connector/Cable   297 KB PDF Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    This is just a scanned schematic of a T-Cable that connects an X9000 radio to a siren box. We don't have the part number of the connector itself, or of the siren box.

    Syntor X Detailed Information:
    The the Syntor, the Syntor X, the Syntor X9000, and the trunking Syntor X and X9000E page by Mike Blenderman K7IC   (offsite link).
    If you have any flavor of Syntor you will want to bookmark this page !
    Accessories (mike, speaker, handset, hang-up boxes) 737 kB PDF file
    Common Circuits Board (low-band) 1.6 MB PDF file
    Common Circuits Board (UHF) 1.8 MB PDF file
    Instruction Manual (low-band) 7.8 MB PDF file
    Instruction Manual (UHF) 8.6 MB PDF file
    Maintenance and Troubleshooting 4.4 MB PDF file
    Microcomputer System (low-band) 6.3 MB PDF file
    Microcomputer System (UHF) 8.7 MB PDF file
    Receiver and Extender (low-band) 10.5 MB PDF file
    Receiver (UHF) 5.4 MB PDF file
    Rotary Mode-Select Control Head (1985) 3.0 MB PDF file
    Rotary Mode-Select Control Head (1989) 5.1 MB PDF file
    Synthesizer (low-band) 10.1 MB PDF file
    Synthesizer (UHF) 6.4 MB PDF file
    Transmitter (low-band) 4.3 MB PDF file
    Transmitter (UHF) 4.4 MB PDF file

    Syntor, Syntor X and MCX100 Amateur Band Programming Information:
    http://www.sites.onlinemac.com/pbennett/5857/software.htm   By Paul Bennett N7OCS (offsite link)

    Other Syntor and Syntor X Information:
    Moving a highband Syntor to 2 meters     By Mark A. Tomany   N9WYS
    This article includes a description of the needed VCO modifications.
    Modifications to a Motorola Syntor X to Use As A Repeater or Point-to-Point Link Receiver or Transmitter     Scott D. Lichtsinn   KBØNLY
    Syntor X Mobile Radio Information     By Mike Blenderman  K7IC   (offsite link)
    Syntor X Code Plug Information     By Paul Kasley  W9TS   (offsite link)
    Syntor X PC Programmable Memory Modules   From Piexx Company (offsite link)
    Setting up a Syntor X as a 144.39 MHz APRS radio   by Earl Garber N3EG (offsite link)
    Making your own TRN4224A PL tone plug   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
    The TRN4224A Tone Plug is used in internal tone PL boards in radios such as the Mitreks, Syntors, Maxar, the Systems-90 multi-PL mobile encoders and some other devices.
    While this article is Mitrek oriented, the information is valid for any equipment that uses the TRN-4224 series of plug-in tone module.
    Making your own TRN6005 DPL code plug   by Mike Morris WA6ILQ from information and photos provided by Jerry Matthews WAØUZI
    Like the tone plug above this module is used on a wide range of equipment including Mitreks, Syntors and the Systems-90 multi-DPL mobile encoders . A quad DPL board for a Micor base station is shown in the article, but the information in this article is applicable to any equipment that uses the TRN6005 series of DPL code plugs.

    MCX100 and Syntor PROM Information:
    The MCX100 requires a PROM burner for programming and is similar in that respect to the Syntor, whereas the MCX1000 is fully programmable using RVN4011 RSS, like the Spectra.
    Syntor and MCX PROM replacement   By Ted Maczulat VE7TFM   188 kB PDF
    MCX100 UHF manual   Part number 6881045E30-O   8.5 MB PDF donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    MCX100 VHF DVP Manual   Part number 6881063E25-O   15.4 MB PDF donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    This manual covers the D23EXA, T23EXA (both are 10 watts), D43EXA or T43EXA (both are 30 watts) series of radios.
    The same manual in six sections:   Part 1, 1.2 MB     Part 2, 5.8 MB     Part 3, 3.7 MB     Part 4, 10.1 MB     Part 5, 5.03 MB     Part 6, 8.77 MB
    Complete TPN1136A power supply schematic and parts list   370 KB PDF extracted from the MCX100 manual above
    Also has info on the TLN5274B regulator board, the TRN6282A chassis and the TKN6948A, TKN6949A, TKN8199A cable kits.
    Moto changed the board mid-production but didn't change the board number.
    Click here for the early TPN1136A power supply schematic only (40 KB PDF)       Click here for the later TPN1136A power supply schematic only (41 KB PDF)
    This power supply was used on the low power base station versions of the MCX100, the Maxar and the Maxar-80.
    TPN1154A power supply schematic and parts list   530 KB PDF
    Also has info on the TLN5274B, TRN6561A, TKN6948A, TKN6949A, TKN8199A kits.
    This power supply was used on the high power base station versions of the MCX100, the Maxar and the Maxar-80.
    PROM to EPROM Adapter Boards for the Syntor and MCX100 from Andy Brinkley of Brinkley Electronics in Winston-Salem, North Carolina   (offsite link)
    These boards let you use more modern chips in place of the unobtainable old ones that Moto used.
    A board specifically for the Syntor       A board specifically for the MCX100   (offsite links)
    For the Syntor-X use the Xcat mentioned above.

    MCX1000 Information:
    The MCX1000 RSS manual is part number 6802902A30.
    MCX1000 VHF Service Manual   Part number 6802902A17-B   8.7 MB PDF file     Donated by Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
    A note from Eric: The "Diagnostic Test Plug" is mentioned twice in the manual, once in Section 3.6.2 (Oscillator Frequency Adjustment), and once in Section 3.6.3 (Deviation Adjustment). The Test Plug is Motorola Part #0180358A54 and while it is no longer available you can make your own. It is nothing more than an RJ-45 (8-wire) modular plug that has a jumper between pins 4 and 5. Those are the middle two pins, so it's hard to get it wrong.
    The book for the MCX1000 touchtone microphone (the VXN1017A) can be found here as a 1.2 MB PDF file.

    Mostar Information:
    Mostar Information and Programming Source   Andy Brinkley of Brinkley Electronics in Winston-Salem, North Carolina   (offsite link)
    While his web site may not specifically say Mostar he does have the equipment to do them.
    Note:  Repeater-Builder is looking for a schematic (even a hand-drawn one that you traced out) of the MIB (Mostar Interface Box)... even Moto's own MIB service manual (6880900Z57) doesn't have the schematic.   The MIB is different enough from standard RIB that it can't be used to program a Mostar.

    Back to the top of the page
    Up one level
    Back to Home

    Motorola® is a registered trademark of Motorola Inc.   Image used with permission.
    Syntor, Syntor X, Syntor X9000, Syntor X2, Syntor X3, the stylized / drop shadowed X, MCX, Mostar, MCX100 and MCX1000 are all registered trademarks of Motorola Inc.

    This web page, this web site, the information presented in and on its pages and in these modifications and conversions is © Copyrighted 1995 and (date of last update) by Kevin Custer W3KKC and multiple originating authors.   All Rights Reserved, including that of paper and web publication elsewhere.